Ski teaching aid

ABSTRACT

The invention resides in a device for securing the tip ends of a pair of skis together comprising a pair of clamps for attachment to the outside edges of the skis, which clamps are interconnected by a flexible strap or web.

United States Patent 'Kutchr na [54] SKI TEACHING AID [72] Inventor:Edward K. Kutchma, 2003 Pinegrove Avenue, El Paso County, Colo. 80906 i[22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 93,221

[52] US. Cl. ..280/1 1.37 E, 35/29 R, 24/264 [51] Int. Cl ..A63c 11/00[58] Field of Search ..35/29 R, 29 E; 280/11.13 H, 280/11.13 T, 11.37 E;272/57 B; 24/264;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 304,718 9/1894 Ford ..24/2641,927,920 9/1933 Colley ..294/92 2,079,240 5/1937 Bruns ..294/922,253,417 8/1941 Clark ..294/92 [451 Nov. 21, 1972 2,455,274 11/1948Scriver ..35/29 R UX 2,567,775 9/1951 Loree ..294/103 X 3,357,71412/1967 Kuehn ..280/11.37 E 3,567,239 3/1971 Kitterman ..280/11.37 E3,066,328 12/1962 J0nes.; ..280/21 A X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS191,871 10/1937 Switzerland ..280/11.13T 309,592 11/1955 Switzerland..280/l1.37E

Primz zry Examiner-Harland S. Skogquist AttorneyRichard W. Hanes [5 7]ABSTRACT The invention resides in a device for securing the tip ends ofa pair of skis'together comprising a pair of clamps for attachment tothe outside edges of the skis, which clamps are interconnected by aflexible strap or web.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEnnovzl m2 INVENTOR EDWARD K. KUTCHMABY I T ATTORNEY SKI TEACHING AID The present invention involves anattachment for a pair of snow skis whose primary purpose is to aid astudent or beginning skier.

Traditionally, a beginning skier is taught to snowplow to permit thestudent to acquire a high degree of control early in the skiing skills.The snowplow position is achieved when the tips of the skis are closetogether and the tails are spread, forming a V position. In thisposition and if the knees of the skier are properly bent, the skis willbe riding on their inside edges, which is necessary for proper controland teaches the student the importance of edge control for other skiingpositions.

Very often a beginner skier will find the snowplow position awkward andwill experience difficulty in bringing the tips close enough togetherand getting the proper edge set. It is, therefore, the principal objectof this invention to provide a device which will artificially bring theskis into correct position and will, at the same time, give assistanceto the instructor in controlling the speed of the student as heprogresses down a modest slope.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon a reading of the following detaileddescription of a preferred and secondary form of the invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skier in the snowplow position withthe device of the present invention attached to the tips of his skis.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a pair of skis showing the tips thereofbeing interconnected by the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a pair of skis showing the tips thereofbeing interconnected by the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the preferred clamp used to securethe connecting strap to the ski edge. 1

The apparatus 2 of the present invention is shown in use in FIG. 1 wherea skier 5 is illustrated in the snowplow position, the tips of the skis7 being close together while the tails 8 are spread apart. The insideedges 9 are r invention comprising a web or strap 12 interconnecting apair of ordinary C clamps 14. The clamps 14 are each respectivelysecured to the outside edges of the skis near the tips thereof so thatthe strap 12 is directed over the tops of the skis. The strap 12 holdsthe tips together as desired and the force exerted by the strap on the Cclamp attached to the outside edges 11 of the skis tends to turn theoutside edge up, thus properly edging the skier for proper control. Asthe student slowly descends a moderate slope, the instructor, who istypically facing the student and sliding rearwardly on his skis, mayactually exert some degree of speed control by inserting a ski pole tipinto the grommet hole 17 in the center of the strap and exertingpressure to hold the student skier back. As the student descends slowlyunder the instructors "fOfiII'Ol the student is able to concentrate onand fee t e edging power of the skis.

Once having experienced the control which proper edging provides, itwill not be difficult for the student to recreate, the proper edgingwithout the aid of the connecting strap 12. i

The preferred form-of the invention is seen in the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. A rubber of deformable plastic edgeclamp 18 if formed with a V- shaped lateral notch 20 for firmly graspingthe outside edge of the ski near its tip, as shown in FIG. 4. Anupstanding rib 22 is provided with a slot 24 into which is fastened oneend of the strap 12. The clamp 18 of the preferred form of the inventionhas a superior quick release characteristic than does the C clamp 14,and is hence more desirable.

I claim:

1. A ski teaching devise for aiding in the instruction of the snow plowskiing position, comprising in combination:

a pair of clamps for attachment to the outside edges of a pair of skis;

a flexible web member interconnecting the said clamps wherein said webmember has an aperture having an annular grommet midway between the endsthereof; and

wherein each of said clamps comprises a block member having a V-shapedgroove therein and said groove having an elastic liner, and wherein saidblock has an upstanding portion having means integral with saidupstanding portion for attachment to one end of said web member so thatsaid block will be disposed beneath said web member.

1. A ski teaching devise for aiding in the instruction of the snow plowskiing position, comprising in combination: a pair of clamps forattachment to the outside edges of a pair of skis; a flexible web memberinterconnecting the said clamps wherein said web member has an aperturehaving an annular grommet midway between the ends thereof; and whereineach of said clamps comprises a block member having a Vshaped groovetherein and said groove having an elastic liner, and wherein said blockhas an upstanding portion having means integral with said upstandingportion for attachment to one end of said web member so that said blockwill be disposed beneath said web member.